'He's a gamer, a dog': Bonemer to add center field to his defensive repertoire

CHICAGO – Caleb Bonemer's 33 home runs across Minor League stops at High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham have drawn a well-deserved amount of praise and attention in the 2026 season.

But the big news Monday for MLB Pipeline's No. 2 White Sox prospect and No. 30 prospect overall, centers upon his defense. Bonemer, who doesn’t turn 21 until Oct. 5, will be adding center field to his repertoire alongside third base and shortstop, which he's already played over his two years in the White Sox system.

“We talked to him about playing some outfield. We brought it up to him last week and he was super open about it,” White Sox assistant general manager Josh Barfield told MLB.com Monday. “By no means is he no longer an infielder. We see this as adding another tool in his bag. And he’s super athletic. He’s capable of doing it.”

Barfield visited Bonemer with the Barons this past weekend and saw the right-handed hitter launch three homers in four games. Doug Sisson, a special assistant to general manager Chris Getz, was also with the team last week, and worked pregame with Bonemer on reads and other outfield things, while he was also getting his work done in the infield.

After getting some run in center field through the Barons’ season finale on Sept. 13, Bonemer will join Glendale as part of the Arizona Fall League to continue working defensively in both areas.

“You can kind of look and he’s getting to the point now where you are like, 'OK, he’s not that far away from the big leagues,’” Barfield said. “The way that Will [Venable] has managed the team and we’ve seen how important versatility is. … Yeah, he’s a good athlete. He’s a plus runner.”

Roch Cholowsky, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 11 overall, and Billy Carlson (No. 3 and No. 62) are two of the eight infield prospects filling out the White Sox Top 13, including Bonemer. Cholowsky (right wrist soreness) and Carlson (skin infection) recently had the remainder of their Minor League seasons shut down.

This season has been a special run for Bonemer, the team’s second-round pick in the 2024 Draft out of Okemos High School in Michigan. He’s a special player, now adding center field to his skillset.

“He’s just got such a good demeanor, especially for somebody so young,” said Barfield of Bonemer. “The biggest thing that sticks out is the physicality. The guy is a monster. He just keeps getting bigger and stronger. He is not built like a 20-year-old. He’d have one of the better bodies in our clubhouse right now. He just keeps getting better.

“It’s not easy for a high school kid to jump straight into his second full season. To do what he’s done at every level, it’s not normal. He’s got the right mindset. He’s not going to be the loud, maybe vocal leader in the clubhouse. He likes to have fun, but between the lines, he’s about getting the work in. He embodies kind of what this group has turned into. The style of play that we’ve grown to love here and our fans have come to love. He’s a gamer, a dog.”